Hodge, Thiel square off in New Fairfield

By John Pirro, Staff Writer

Published
8:21 pm EDT, Wednesday, October 28, 2009

NEW FAIRFIELD -- As incumbent John Hodge, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Monika Thiel, head toward the finish line in the race for first selectman, lawn signs and door-to-door campaigning have replaced controversies over a cancelled debate and a racially offensive e-mail that garnered early headlines.

Hodge, who is seeking his third term, is running on a platform that includes completion of major town projects, a low tax rate and the town's sound fiscal standing.

Thiel, who was elected to the Board of Education two years ago as a Republican but gained the Democratic Town Committee's endorsement to challenge Hodge, cites her extensive business background and what she called the incumbent's failure to resolve several long-standing problems.

Neither of the candidates was involved in the e-mail scandal that earlier this month led to the resignations of two Republican Town Committee members, although they were both forced to address it.

Hodge criticized his opponent over her boycott of the traditional candidate's debate sponsored by the Citizen News, the town's weekly newspaper, although Thiel said most people she's spoken to support her decision not to participate unless a more impartial organization, specifically the Brookfield League of Women Voters, was allowed to moderate the event.

While the first selectman race has grabbed most of the attention, several other positions are being contested, including a spot on the Board of Selectman, for which former selectman Art Azzarito is running as an independent candidate.

Each party has nominated three candidates for four-year terms on the nine-person Board of Education. Republicans control three of the five seats where the terms haven't expired, and minority representation rules limit the majority to six seats.